A fuel tank for storing a hydrogen liquid carrier and a spent hydrogen liquid carrier includes a substantially rigid exterior tank wall including a first chamber and a second chamber. The first chamber is fluidly disconnected from the second chamber, and the second chamber includes a dynamically expandable and contractible enclosure, the enclosure being configured to define a dynamic boundary between the hydrogen liquid carrier and spent hydrogen liquid carrier. The fuel tank also includes a first channel in flow communication with one of the first chamber or the second chamber and a second channel in flow communication with another of the first chamber or the second chamber, wherein the first channel and the second channel are flow connected such that a flow through one of the first or second channels is returned to the another of the first or second channels, and that during the flow, the dynamic boundary changes position causing a change in a volume of the second chamber.

A modular device for generating hydrogen gas from a hydrogen liquid carrier may include a housing;

an inlet for receiving the hydrogen liquid carrier; and at least one cartridge arranged within the housing. The cartridge may include at least one catalyst configured to cause a release of hydrogen gas when exposed to the hydrogen liquid carrier. The modular device may include a gas outlet for expelling the hydrogen gas released in the modular device and a liquid outlet for expelling spent hydrogen liquid carrier.

A reaction chamber for generating hydrogen gas using a hydrogen liquid carrier line may include a channel including a catalyst for causing the hydrogen gas to be produced from a hydrogen liquid carrier, the channel including an inlet end for the hydrogen liquid carrier and an outlet end for a spent carrier. The reaction chamber may also include a valve for controlling a rate of flow of the hydrogen liquid carrier flowing through the channel; a gas outlet for evacuating the hydrogen gas generated in the channel; and at least one processor configured to receive at least one indicator of a demand for the hydrogen gas and to control the valve to adjust the rate of flow of the hydrogen liquid carrier to meet the demand for the hydrogen gas.

A hydrogen generator includes a container having a gas outlet that is configured to contain a soluble chemical fuel that reacts with a catalyst to generate hydrogen. A control cylinder is attached to the container and comprises a piston configured to travel axially within the control cylinder, a pole attached to the piston and extending into the container, a catalyst holder provided within the container and connected to the pole, resilient means biasing the catalyst holder towards a bottom of the container, and a gas inlet port. A gas flow line is in fluid communication with the gas outlet and has a first end in fluid communication with the gas inlet port, a second end configured to feed hydrogen to a hydrogen-consuming device, and a two-way valve provided to allow fluid communication between the first and second ends of the gas flow line to be selectably established or cut off.

The invention provides a continuous process for the preparation of ethylene glycol and 1, 2-propylene glycol from starting material comprising one or more saccharides, said process being carried out in a reactor system comprising a reactor vessel equipped with an external recycle loop and said process comprising the steps of: i) providing the starting material in a solvent, via an inlet, to the external recycle loop and contacting it therein with a retro-aldol catalyst composition to provide an intermediate stream; ii) then contacting said intermediate stream with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst composition in the reactor vessel; iii) withdrawing a product stream comprising glycols from the reactor vessel; iv) providing a portion of said product stream, via an outlet, for separation and purification of the glycols contained therein; and v) recycling the remainder of said product stream via the external recycle loop.

A reactor includes a plurality of reaction side flow passages through which a reaction fluid flows, a catalyst (catalyst structure) disposed inside the reaction side flow passages to accelerate the reaction of the reaction fluid, a plurality of heat medium side flow passages which are alternately stacked with the reaction side flow passages, and through which a heat medium flows, and a suppression flow passage which is disposed adjacent to a surface of the reaction side flow passage, the heat medium side flow passages being not stacked on the surface, and through which flows a suppression fluid suppressing the heat dissipation to the outside from the reaction fluid flowing through the reaction side flow passage, or the heat transfer from the outside to the reaction fluid.

A reactor configured to release hydrogen from a hydrogen-bearing, liquid compound, having a reactor vessel which comprises at least one body with metallic support structure. A solid, highly porous coating is applied on said at least one body which comprises catalytically acting substances for the release of hydrogen from the liquid, hydrogen-bearing compound, wherein the at least one body with metallic support structure comprises at least one cutout with a volume that remains the same or becomes larger from along a cross-sectional dimension extending from bottom to top, based on the reactor vessel.

A hydrogen generator includes a container having a gas outlet that is configured to contain a soluble chemical fuel that reacts with a catalyst to generate hydrogen. A control cylinder is attached to the container and comprises a piston configured to travel axially within the control cylinder, a pole attached to the piston and extending into the container, a catalyst holder provided within the container and connected to the pole, resilient means biasing the catalyst holder towards a bottom of the container, and a gas inlet port. A gas flow line is in fluid communication with the gas outlet and has a first end in fluid communication with the gas inlet port, a second end configured to feed hydrogen to a hydrogen-consuming device, and a two-way valve provided to allow fluid communication between the first and second ends of the gas flow line to be selectably established or cut off.

The invention provides a continuous process for the preparation of ethylene glycol and 1, 2-propylene glycol from starting material comprising one or more saccharides, said process being carried out in a reactor system comprising a reactor vessel equipped with an external recycle loop and said process comprising the steps of: i) providing the starting material in a solvent, via an inlet, to the external recycle loop and contacting it therein with a retro-aldol catalyst composition to provide an intermediate stream; ii) then contacting said intermediate stream with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst composition in the reactor vessel; iii) withdrawing a product stream comprising glycols from the reactor vessel; iv) providing a portion of said product stream, via an outlet, for separation and purification of the glycols contained therein; and v) recycling the remainder of said product stream via the external recycle loop.

The invention provides a reactor comprising a reaction chamber having a catalytic surface in contact with reactants in said chamber, and a source for passing electrical current through said catalytic surface. The reactor can be used for dehydrohalogentation reactions, such as dehydrochlorination of HCFC-244bb to HFO-1234yf and for reactions where zero valent metals are employed for catalysis. The invention further provides a process to prepare HFO-1234yf from HCFC-244bb using an electrically heated reaction chamber.